Below is a comprehensive guide of facts and credible links related to the Coronavirus in South Africa.

Visit this page regularly for any updates or changes.

Lockdown FAQs

General

What is a lockdown?

A lockdown is an emergency protocol that requires all South Africans to stay at home unless:

•You are performing an essential service

•You are getting essential goods or receiving an essential service

•You are collecting a social grant

•You are seeking emergency, life-saving or chronic medical attention

What remains open?

•Grocery shops, banks, pharmacies and other essential services will stay open during the lock down

•Shopping centres and retail stores must be closed, unless essential goods are sold on the premises. The store staff must ensure safe distancing and hygiene conditions

•As of 2 April, spaza shops and informal traders will be allowed to operate, as long as they have a valid permit

•As of 2 April, call centres providing services to international clients will be allowed to operate on condition that they're providing healthcare, social or financial services

•All South African borders are closed, except for the transportation of essential goods and fuel

What are the repercussions of ignoring the lockdown regulations?

Ignoring the lockdown restrictions is seen as an offence, and will be punishable with a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Should I report people ignoring lockdown regulations, or somebody who tested positive for COVID19 that is ignoring quarantine regulations?

It is your legal duty to report a neighbour or co-worker

How do I identify fake news?

Before you read or watch any news, make sure it is from reliable sources such as credible news publications and government department websites. Only trust verified news sources. Aside from news sites, you can also verify information on the Africa Check, National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Department of Health websites.

How do I report fake news?

You can report any Coronavirus fake news by sending an email to fakenewsalert@dtps.gov.za or send a Whatsapp to 067 966 4015. You need to include the social media post, article or document deemed fake. Also include the link to where the post is located.

What should I do if a soldier or police officer stops me? What are their guidelines of enforcement?

The soldiers and police officers are patrolling South African streets to ensure that every person is abiding by the lockdown regulations and staying safe. If you are stopped, stay calm, inform the officer your reason for being out in the streets, and obey the instruction provided by them.

How do I report soldier or police brutality?

You can submit a complaint at your local police station or contact the National Service Complaints Call Centre on 0800 333 177 or email complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za

For Business

What are essential services?

Only businesses that have been defined as essential services in the regulations made in terms of the disaster management act published by Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, will be allowed to operate.

These include:

Goods

1.Food

a.Any food product, including non-alcoholic beverages

b.Animal food

c.Chemicals packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any food product

23.Accommodation used for persons rendering essential services, quarantine, isolation and the lockdown

24.Production, manufacturing, supply, logistics, transport, delivery, critical maintenance and repair in relation to the rendering of essential services including components and equipment

25.Transport services for persons rendering essential services and goods, and transportation of patients

26.Services rendered by the Executive, Members of Parliament, Members of the Provincial Legislature, Members of Local Councils, the Judiciary, traditional leaders and National Office Bearers of Political Parties represented in Parliament

27.Commissioners of the South African Human Rights Commission, Gender Commission, and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and the Public Protector and Deputy Public Protector

28.Transport and logistics in respect of essential goods as set out in A above to neighbouring countries.

How do I register my business as an essential service?

All companies listed as per the essential services list, are required to register on the following portal http://bizportal.gov.za/essential_service.aspx These companies are required to make use of the absolute minimum staff necessary to operate safely.

What financial assistance is available to SMMEs during the lockdown?

There are a number of economic interventions that government has put into place to assist small businesses, these include:

•Covid19 Temporary Employee / Employer Relief Scheme

Businesses can apply for assistance for up to three months. The scheme will assist with paying a portion of workers salaries. Applications are subjected to the normal verification and validation processes of the Unemployment Insurance Fund

The Debt Relief Fund is aimed at providing relief on existing debts and repayments, to assist SMMEs during the period of the COVID-19 State of Disaster. For SMMEs to be eligible for assistance under the Debt Relief Fund, the applicant must demonstrate a direct link of the impact or potential impact of COVID-19 on the business operations. This facility will also assist entities in acquiring raw material, paying labour and other operational costs. All these interventions will be structured to match the patterns of the SMMEs cash flows, as well as the extent of the impact suffered.

All small businesses are eligible to receive this financial aid, and need only meet the following criteria:

oThey must be 100% owned by South African citizens

oThey should employ at least 70% SA nationals

oThey must be registered with SARS and be tax compliant

Priority will be given to female owned businesses, the youth and persons with disabilities.

To access the fund, businesses are required to register on the SMME South Africa platform

For Individuals

When can I leave my house?

People are allowed to get to the shops and access essential goods and services - in small numbers. Shops allow a limited number of people into the shop at the same time, ensuring social distancing of 1.5 meters when in a public space. Use hand sanitiser provided in the store.

When returning home, remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

It is advisable that you also change your clothes, as the virus can live on fabric for a few hours.

Also remove excess packaging that can carry the virus (such as boxes, plastic etc) from groceries where possible and decant into your own containers. If it is not possible to decant, wipe the packaging/tins/containers with a cloth and some disinfectant before putting your groceries in your fridge/freezer/cupboard.

Do I need any documentation when I leave my house?

No documentation is required.

What should I do if I'm feeling sick and think I have Covid-19?

If you are not feeling well, call your doctor. DO NOT go to a hospital or clinic. If you do not have a doctor/GP, please call the coronavirus hotline on 0800 029 999. They will advise you on the steps you need to take. You should also separate yourself from your family if you suspect you have the virus. Speak to your medical professional who will advise you on the steps to take.

Can I go for a walk or a run, or take my dog for a walk on a public road?

No, this is NOT allowed. The national disaster declaration is clear that people be confined to their place of residence, unless they are an essential service, buying goods, collecting a social grant, or seeking medical attention.

Can I go for a walk or a run, or take my dog for a walk in my estate?

No, this is not allowed. Roads, parks and other amenities of the estate do not form part of anyone's place of residence, and this is therefore strictly prohibited.

What financial assistance is available to me if I have lost my job due to the lockdown?

The Covid19 Temporary Employee / Employer Relief benefit has been devised by the department of labour. The benefit will assist with paying a portion of workers’ salaries. Applications are subjected to the normal verification and validation processes of the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Contact 012 337 1997 for information on applying for this benefit.

Can I transport my children between homes for visitation?

Separated parents may now move their children between houses during the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, provided the transporting parent carries their court order or any agreement registered with the family advocate eg. parental responsibilities and rights agreement or parenting plan.

Parents must also ensure that no person in the household has come into contact with a person who is known or suspected to be infected with Covid-19.

Can I visit elderly relatives who need help during lockdown?

No visiting will be allowed under lockdown, but old-age homes will get the food and support they need.

Can I go out for takeaways or have takeaways delivered?

No, you cannot get takeaways or ready cooked meals delivered to you. All restaurants, takeaways and food delivery services will be closed during lockdown.

Can funerals take place?

Yes, funerals will be allowed to take place with the number of mourners restricted to 50. However, night vigils will be prohibited.

Transport

What if my driver’s license expires during the lockdown?

Vehicle Testing Centres and Drivers’ Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) will be closed. Should your drivers’ licence expire during the duration of the lockdown it will remain valid until the end of the lockdown, with the grace period of renewal within 14 working days thereafter unless otherwise determined.

Do you have any lockdown questions you'd like us to answer? Email your question to: info@outa.co.za

Covid-19 Government Gazettes and key documents

Government has published a number of regulations, declarations, directives and instructions in relation to the coronavirus, and key statements.

Disaster Management Act of 2002. This is the Act in terms of which the key regulations are issued. The Act is administered by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), who makes regulations in terms of this Act.

15 March 2020: In a speech to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa announces the state of national disaster and the first restrictions.

18 March 2020: The CoGTA Ministry issues regulations under the Disaster Management Act. This included arrangements for: help from the Defence Force; funding from donors; prohibitions on gatherings; instructions for those with Covid-19; places of quarantine and isolation; closure of schools and penal facilities; limits on alcohol sales; emergency procurement procedures; authority for various ministers to issue directions in connection with Covid-19; and the listing of offences and penalties for contravention of the regulations.

18 March 2020: The Ministry of Transport issues the first restrictions on air travel andsea ports.

19 March 2020: National Treasury issuesInstruction 8 of 2019/20 under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and Circular 100 under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), both relating to emergency procurement arising from Covid-19.

25 March 2020: The President informs Parliament that he has authorised the deployment of 2820 SANDF members in support of the SAPS and for border control, arising from the pandemic, from 26 March to 26 June 2020 at a cost of R641m. A copy of the letter is here.

26 March 2020: CoGTA Ministry amends the disaster regulations, which includes ordering that buses, taxis and e-hailing services may not carry more than 50% of their passenger capacity and private vehicles may not carry more than 60%.

26 March 2020: The Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Technologies issues directions on communications, including the required dissemination of public information on Covid-19, and instructions enabling the tracking and tracing of people infected with Covid-19 through internet location information and cellphone tracking.

26 March 2020: The Ministry of Justice issues directions on courts, which includes restricts movements into courts, arranges for the postponement of court cases and makes arrangements for court operations such as family law services.

27 March 2020: The Ministry of Transport updates the directions of 26 March on air freight transport, increasing the number of airports open for freight.

29 March 2020: The Ministry of Finance announces an initial set of measures to assist tax compliant businesses with cash flow assistance and provide an incentive to businesses to retain their lower-income employees.

30 March 2020: The Ministry of Transport's updates on road transport include setting the times taxis may operate, extending the validity of driving and vehicle licences which would expire during the lockdown, and declaring certain jobs like road emergency operators and toll operators as essential services.

30 March 2020: In a speech to the nation, President Ramaphosa announces a screening, testing, tracing and medical management programme which will involve 10 000 field workers visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen people for Covid-19 and refer those who need it for testing.

2 April 2020: The CoGTA Ministry updates regulations on aspects of the lockdown. This includes updates on movement, essential services, borders, funerals, commuter transport (including updating passenger numbers in buses, taxis and cars), and the establishment of a Covid-19 Tracing Database.

2 April 2020: The Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) sets rules for licensees for public dissemination of information on Covid-19, including ordering that sign-language interpreters must be used in at least 50% of television news broadcasts at peak hours and in all broadcasts by the National Command Council. The rules also enable ICASA to temporarily assign radio frequency spectrum.

3 April 2020: The Ministry of Trade and Industry sets out how the Competition Tribunal will deal with complaints of excessive prices in connection with Covid-19.

6 April 2020: The Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies amends the communications directions of 26 March, requiring cellphone companies to make available connectivity to 152 district virtual classroom platforms, and ordering free access to specified Covid-19 websites and the Covid-19 emergency number.

8 April 2020: The Ministry of Health issues directions on health personnel recruitment and training. This allows emergency recruitment of health staff, including bringing back retired staff, and allows deployments. It also orders that all health personnel, both public (at national, provincial and local government level) and private, must be trained on Covid-19 to help manage the pandemic. The directions also cover provision of equipment, disposal of waste and mortuaries.

15 April 2020: ICASA sets up the free telephone number 111 for Covid-19 national emergency services. The public can call or SMS this number without being charged. This number will fall away three months after the end of the National State of Disaster.

15 April 2020: National Treasury issues Instruction 3 of 2020/21, a strategy for central emergency procurement for PFMA organs of state, and Circular 101 on the same strategy under the MFMA.

22 April 2020: Letter from President Cyril Ramaphosa tabled in Parliament, informing Parliament of the extended deployment of the SANDF in support of the SAPS and to control borders, from 2 April to 26 June 2020. This takes the SANDF deployment from the 2 820 deployed on 25 March to 76 000, at a revised cost estimated at R4.590bn.

5 May 2020: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation extends the time for employers to submit applications for mandatory grants to the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

5 May 2020: ICASA updates regulations on aspects of broadcasting relating to the use of local content.

5 May 2020: The Ministry of Trade and Industry expands the scope of the Competition Act block exemption for the banking sector.

8 May 2020: The Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies amends directions of 26 March and 6 April.

9 May 2020: The Social Development Ministry updates directions on social services, including the release of inmates from facilities, the extension of temporary grants and grants which lapse, to allow the electronic application for grants, the movement of children.

9 May 2020: The Ministry of Health updates directions on movement across South Africa's borders for emergency medical treatment, the return of South Africans and the repatriation of foreign nationals.

15 May 2020: The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy extends the list of permitted goods and services for energy projects to include, among others, civil engineering works for REIPPs, embedded generation project, the ongoing build of Medupi and Kusile, the department's solar water heater programme.

21 April 2020: Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: presentations by the Minister, on the implementation of the disaster management regulations. The Minister's full report is here and the presentation is here.

21 April 2020: Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: the Minister briefs the committee on measures being taken. A link to the meeting records, including presentations, is here.

22 April 2020: The Joint Standing Committee on Defence discussed defence operations and developments under the nationwide lockdown in response to the spread of COVID-19. The meeting records are here.

22 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour and Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour were briefed by the Department of Employment and Labour on Covid-19 responses.

23 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Social Development discussed the response to Covid-19. The meeting records are here.

23 April 2020: The Standing Committee on Finance discussed the tax bills relating to the state of national disaster. The National Treasury briefed the committee on the Draft Disaster Management Tax Relief Bill and 2020 Draft Disaster Management Tax Relief Administration Bill.

27 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Health and the Select Committee on Health and Social Services were briefed by the Department of Health on quarantine sites, shortage of personal protective equipment, services to refugees and asylum seekers, the financial implications of the pandemic, policy implications after the pandemic and vaccine trials.

28 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and the Select Committee on Security and Justice were briefed by the Department of Home Affairs on matters related to Covid-19 including borders and the Beitbridge border fence. The meeting records are here.

28 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development and the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour were briefed by the Department of Small Business Development on help for SMEs. The meeting records are here.

28 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs was briefed by the SA Local Government Association on the role of local government in combatting the spread of Covid-19.

29 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Police and the Select Committee on Security and Justice were briefed by the SAPS on management of the lockdown.

29 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and the Select Committee on Security and Justice were briefed by the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Service on Covid-19 measures.

29 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Industry Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour were briefed by the Minister on the effects of the pandemic on the economy and mitigation measures.

30 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Transport and the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure briefed by the Minister of Transport on matters under the lockdown including vehicle movements, ETC vehicle counting technology on Gauteng freeways, toll gate vehicle counts, public transport operators' compliance, transportation of essential goods and people involved in essential services, cross-border traffic and plans for phasing in of future transport arrangements.

30 April 2020: The Select and Standing Committees on Finance, Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts briefed by the National Treasury on the fiscal implication of COVID-19, on interventions by government to save and stimulate the economy, and on the implications of non-compliance with procurement laws and policies.

30 April 2020: The Portfolio Committee on CoGTA briefed by the CoGTA Minister and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) on the stimulus package to municipalities. The Ministry's presentation is here and Salga's is here.

4 May 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure briefed by the department on properties for quarantine facilities. The meeting record is here.

4 May 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and the Select Committee on Security and Justice continued discussions with the Ministry on Covid-19 related matters.

4 May 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Tourism and Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour briefed by the Minister of Tourism on the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry.

8 May 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Communications and the Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communication briefed by the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) on its Covid-19 related programmes and projects.

12 May 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Police and the Select Committee on Security and Justice continued with the SAPS briefing on the police management of the National State Disaster lockdown. They were also briefed by the IPID on police misconduct during the lockdown.

12 May 2020: The Portfolio Committee on Communications and its entities briefed by the department on Covid-19 related issues.

14 May 2020: The Portfolio and Select Committees on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs briefed by the City of Cape Town metro, the City of Johannesburg metro and the City of eThekwini metro on plans to combat the spread of Covid-19 virus. The city presentations are here: CoCT, CoJ and eThekwini.

14 May 2020: Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology and Select Committee on Higher Education, Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture briefed further by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology on plans to save the 2020 academic year.